Key facts
- •NAB merchant fees are negotiated - not published publicly
- •Indicative rates range from 0.5% to 1.8% per transaction depending on card type and volume
- •Monthly merchant service fee from approximately $24/month including terminal rental
- •Credit card transactions attract higher rates than debit card transactions
- •NAB offers least-cost routing - contact NAB to confirm it is active on your terminal
- •From 1 October 2026, NAB merchants can no longer pass card fees to customers as a surcharge
What does NAB charge per transaction?
NAB sets merchant fees through individual merchant agreements. The rate you pay depends on your card mix (debit vs credit, domestic vs international), transaction volume, business category, and whether you are on a bundled NAB business banking package. Indicative ranges:
| Provider | Transaction fee | Monthly fee | Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| QwikPay | $0.00Zero fees | Free 12 months, then from $19.99/mo | None - QR code only |
| NAB debit card | 0.5% to 0.8% | $24/mo | Terminal rental |
| NAB credit card | 1.1% to 1.8% | $24/mo | Terminal rental |
| NAB international card | 2.0% to 3.0% | $24/mo | Terminal rental |
Disclaimer: NAB rates are indicative only. NAB does not publish standard merchant fee schedules. Contact NAB directly for a current quote based on your business volume and industry.
What does NAB cost per month in real terms?
Using the midpoint indicative rate of 1.2%:
- $10,000/month in card payments = approximately $120/month in fees ($1,440/year) plus monthly service fee
- $25,000/month in card payments = approximately $300/month in fees ($3,600/year) plus monthly service fee
- $50,000/month in card payments = approximately $600/month in fees ($7,200/year) plus monthly service fee
High-volume merchants who negotiate rates below 1.0% will pay less. The monthly service fee of approximately $24 applies regardless of volume. After October 2026, none of these costs can be recovered from customers as a surcharge on Visa, Mastercard, or EFTPOS transactions.
NAB vs fintech providers - fee comparison
| Provider | Transaction fee | Monthly fee | Rate transparency | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QwikPay | $0.00Zero fees | Free 12 months, then from $19.99/mo | None - QR code only | Instant, on-demand |
| NAB | 0.5-1.8% (negotiated) | $24/mo | Negotiated only | Next business day |
| Square | 1.6% flat | None | Published | Next business day |
| Tyro | 1.4% flat | $29/mo rental | Published | Next business day |
| Zeller | 1.4% flat | None | Published | Next business day |
Disclaimer: Rates are indicative. Verify current rates directly with each provider.
When NAB makes sense: Businesses already banking with NAB may find value in consolidated banking and merchant services. NAB's merchant terminals are well-integrated with major hospitality and retail POS systems. High-volume merchants can often negotiate meaningful rate reductions below published fintech rates.
When a fintech alternative makes sense: Merchants who want transparent published rates without negotiation, or those processing lower volumes where monthly service fees make bank pricing less competitive, may find Tyro, Square, or Zeller more cost-effective. For zero transaction fees alongside any existing terminal, QwikPay adds a fee-free option at no disruption to the existing NAB setup.
What is NAB Transact?
NAB Transact is NAB's online payment gateway for e-commerce. It allows businesses to accept card payments online through their website or app. NAB Transact fees are separate from in-person terminal fees and are negotiated individually. For merchants who accept payments both in-store and online, NAB offers bundled pricing that covers both channels - contact NAB directly for a combined rate quote.
Does NAB offer least-cost routing?
Yes. NAB offers least-cost routing on eligible terminals, routing contactless debit transactions over the cheapest available network. If you have a NAB terminal and are not sure whether this is active, contact NAB merchant services to confirm. Activation is at no additional cost and can meaningfully reduce your debit card transaction costs.
What does the October 2026 surcharge ban mean for NAB merchants?
From 1 October 2026, NAB merchants can no longer add a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard, or EFTPOS transactions. Your merchant service fee continues - it comes out of your margin. The RBA's interchange reductions will lower NAB's wholesale costs. NAB is required to report quarterly on pass-through from January 2027. Contact NAB before October to understand your post-ban effective rate.
The only option with $0 transaction fees
NAB, Square, and Tyro all charge a percentage of every card transaction and settle funds the next business day. QwikPay charges merchants nothing per transaction - payments are processed through the QwikPay wallet via QR code, not through a card network. No interchange. No scheme fee. No merchant service fee. Settlement is instant and on-demand - withdraw to your bank account whenever you choose. QwikPay sits alongside your existing NAB terminal as an additional payment option. Your current setup stays exactly where it is.
Start accepting zero-fee paymentsFrequently asked questions
What are NAB merchant fees?
NAB merchant fees are negotiated and not published publicly. Indicative rates range from 0.5% to 1.8% per transaction depending on card type, volume, and industry. NAB also charges a monthly terminal rental and service fee on top of per-transaction costs. Contact NAB directly for a current quote.
Does NAB charge a monthly fee for merchant services?
Yes. NAB charges a monthly merchant service fee that typically starts from around $24 per month including terminal rental. The exact amount depends on your terminal model, merchant agreement, and transaction volume.
What is NAB Transact?
NAB Transact is NAB's online payment gateway for e-commerce merchants. It allows businesses to accept card payments online through their website or app. NAB Transact fees are separate from in-person terminal fees and are negotiated individually. For merchants who accept payments both in-store and online, NAB offers bundled pricing that covers both channels - contact NAB directly for a combined rate quote.
What happens to NAB merchant surcharges after October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, NAB merchants can no longer add a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard, or EFTPOS transactions. NAB's merchant service fees continue - they come out of the merchant's margin. Contact NAB before October to understand your post-ban effective rate and whether the RBA's interchange reductions will be passed through to your account.
Can I use QwikPay alongside my NAB terminal?
Yes. QwikPay is an additional payment option that sits alongside your existing NAB terminal. Your NAB hardware stays exactly where it is. QwikPay adds a QR code at the counter for customers who want to pay with zero fees and earn Qwik Points rewards.
Does NAB offer least-cost routing?
Yes. NAB offers least-cost routing on eligible terminals. This routes contactless debit transactions over the cheapest available network - typically eftpos rather than Visa or Mastercard debit. Contact NAB to confirm it is active on your terminal.